Dhaka, Aug. 3 -- Families across Bangladesh are being pushed into debt as they struggle to cover the hidden costs of measles treatment, according to a joint assessment by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Nearly nine in 10 measles affected families (89 per cent) reported borrowing money to pay for treatment, while six in 10 (61 per cent) exhausted their savings, said a media statement on Monday.

Every family surveyed reported needing financial support. 35 per cent identified medicines as their highest priority, followed by water, sanitation and hygiene support (33 per cent) and food assistance (22 per cent).

It also showed, around 4 per cent of f...